Pick of the Day, with Discussion

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April 6, 2020 - 9:47am

8,080 replies

marye

Joined:
May 26, 2007

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

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February 8, 2023 - 7:41pm

#1311

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

Great.. just great

So I saved.. squirrelled, pinched pennies for 45 years and finally dropped the dime on my dream system I have been planning for all these years. I went completely with Fender Amps on the recommendation of some guy named Hal and now I read this.

What are these McIntosh items of which you speak?
February 8, 2023 - 11:45am

#1312

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

That is Gold Jerry

OB- Kenny Ban??. The Fatigues episode.
February 8, 2023 - 11:41am

#1313

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Calling inspector Clouseau

Man I wish I had time….for anything lol
I’ll try to check some more of these audio anomalies out this WE.
Hit me with examples if ya got em.

Ive noticed this phenomenon with other recordings, think mostly 71-72s.
Definitely could be tape degradation and/or perhaps a little oversaturated originally, but I think there’s amp distortion going on too? They were still mostly using dirty fender power at this stage. So like any real Rock and roller by the end of the night the amps are on 11 etc and with those old tube power sections/power supplies their easy to overdrive.
By 73 they had pretty much fully switched to big McIntosh power amps, though they were still using the Fenders for pre amps. Like your pre amp at home though, you wouldn’t be pushing the pre amp that much (let the power amp do the heavy lifting). Think overworking a small car engine versus barely stepping on a big V8.
Could be compromised cabling somewhere. Could be dirty and/or insufficient venue power too? That’s the problem with E lic tri city though, could be a number of things. Probably a bit of all the above…

Yep BC, glad your digging the nice February weather. These days where it’s sunny and up in the 30s, “it’s gold Jerry, gold I tell ya! I should try to check out the ole St Louie, Louie, box, another I’ve barely been introduced too.
Hoping 🤞I might be getting a little quality time off soon.
February 8, 2023 - 8:23am

#1314

bluecrow

Joined:
September 21, 2015

10/18/72

The '72 shows from the not quite the Fox Box have been in and out of the disc drive several times the past few weeks. All great for sure. I know first run through that it was the 10/19 jam that really kinda floored me. Yesterday listening to 10/18 again with the sound quality question in mind. One thing that struck me was that Keith sounded muddy and almost sort of kind of out of tune. I pay a lot of attention to Keith's playing, especially the "earlier days." Something was off and my guess was it was a SBD thing, how he was miked, and not Keith. (Edit - or as Jim suggests maybe some tape degradation.) Bobby's guitar also sounded a bit fuzzed in a recording artifact kind of way, though not unpleasant in any sense. But none of that stopped me from a thoroughly enjoyable listen. There was a point during the Dark Star where I was suddenly in a zone of complete wonder - a place that reminded me of my first deep "now I understand" listen to the Rotterdam Dark Star (on my weird balance SBD many many years before the box.) A really very cool place to be inside the music. So yes, that Disc 2 is some serious magic. One thing struck me as funny is Donna's yell in the Playing Reprise. I have no issues with her singing in those early days, truly dig it. And that Donna Playing ROAR was maybe the most primal vocalization I've ever heard from her. She was feeling the "Holy Spirit" big time!! Loved her quick soft little "Thank you Thank you Thank you" after it was all said and done. Another truly epic jam sequence.
Listening to 10/19 Disc 1 right now this morning. Keith is hard right - i think he was slightly left of center 10/18. A little lower in the mix, tone sounds better to my ear. I'd have to do a hard A / B to be sure that my thoughts are correct on that. Now on Sugaree and Keith's piano and Jerry's vocals have now moved to center of the sound stage. I think Keith sounds a little better than 10/18 but still a tiny bit muffled? Maybe its my brain, who knows.
Thanks DV for suggesting 10/18 awhile ago. I feel like these are my first really good deep listens to the '72 shows from that box. Like you said, great stuff. I ran through '73 a week or so ago and need to revisit that. At the time I remember thinking that the '72 resonated with me more and given that '73 is generally a big fat sweet spot for me I know that my head may have been ever so slightly out of alignment.
To echo KeithFan over on the 45 thread - I'm really really digging Dave's 45. Spectacular sound. Great playing. Boy are we some lucky Deadheads. It was 10/1 Set II that really got me first run through. The Black Peter is so freaking gorgeous. And then the "random current" of that CB or whatever for a couple seconds and its like oh my freaking goodness. I can only laugh. Really, Universe? I first heard 1/31 NOLA last year while exploring a little around the 2/6/70 Fox (personal favorite.) I remember being very pleasantly surprised to find that they played that acoustic set. I think every single acoustic set they have in the vault needs to be released. Gave 1/31 acoustic another run through Sunday morning. Woke up from a short nap late Sunday afternoon and had Sawmill chorus running through my head again and again. I"m like "What is this song? where do I know it from? Oh Yeah, Bobby sings it on 1/31!" Talk about a poor boy, talk about a poor boy, let me have a dollar bill.
Nice Poster Oro!! Your first show! Glad that the Almanac shone a light on your post - hadn't seen it. Another beautiful day here in paradise. Always loved this time of year in the high desierto. Onward!!
February 8, 2023 - 8:03am

#1315

JimInMD

Joined:
June 27, 2011

10/18

I have to revisit this.. but I think I recalled thinking something similar and attributed it to someone spinning the master reel a couple times too many before they locked it away. All three nights are good, but 10/18 is probably my favorite of the bunch, it would not surprise me a bit that someone on the inside thought so too. That and the BCT shows a month and a half earlier are both special runs from a special year.

For kicks and giggles.. check out the Morning Dew from 5/26/72 at the Lyceum from the E72 box and then listen to it from the version on Europe 72. There is static on the box set version where the original sounds crystal clear. The masters degrade especially when people with two left thumbs (like me) handle them. A lot of the early shows suffer from this, listen to 4/18/70 (the Mountain Girl returned reels) sound and frankly a lot of 69.

Well, at least someone remembered to hit record. Didn't Sony or one of the other music houses have their entire archive burn down a decade or so ago? Image the horror if GD masters were lost in a fire.🔥🔥🔥😭

Been gone a bit lately.. spending quality time in the hospital with my aging parents. They seem to be on the mend though, which puts me back home and in good spirits. I hope to participate more as I get back on line with work and fun.

Thanks for keeping the train a rollin' guys.
February 7, 2023 - 7:46am

#1316

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

Listen to the River 72

Thanks for looking into it OB.
I have noticed it on all three CDs from 10/18. I don't hear it on 10/17 or 10/19, which I think are both smoking!
February 7, 2023 - 7:11am

#1317

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Yeah

I only listened to disc 2, but yeah, now that you mention it…
Seemed to get more noticeable near the end?

I notice occasionally on 71-72s…some is just the actual distorting of the amps from playing loud…
February 6, 2023 - 6:27pm

#1318

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

10/18/72

Hey OB, did you notice any distortion on 10/18?

I think 10/17 and 19 sound spectacular.
February 5, 2023 - 1:36pm

#1319

Oroborous

Joined:
June 19, 2007

Today

Hit 10/2/77, thinking set one of 11/6 for comparison and/or jam section of 10/18/72 since y’all were sniffing around there recently I believe?
Representing DV after my 15 seconds of fame lol.
Poster came to me outta left field like much of the better things GD over the years!
In 85 I believe my cousin saw it somewhere, snagged it, then later gave it to me for Xmass.
One of my most prized possessions.

EDIT: first set of 11/6 rocks, definitely a difference.
10/18/72 Disc 2, Magnifico! That’s just what the Dr ordered!
February 5, 2023 - 9:58am

#1320

DeadVikes

Joined:
October 26, 2016

1/31/1970

The warehouse, okay what was this venue? Recording is really good. As you said OB, raw is a good way to describe it, until the equipment blew.
Enjoyed the show, good Dire Wolf, Big Boss Man, Morning Dew. Different acoustic songs in the mix to close the show. Interesting show.
Thank you Doc.

Like the new picture OB. Sweet poster. I hear you on the work front. Hard to squeeze them in sometimes.

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

Forums

Currently Listening To...

Bolo24 says: An Idea, Perhaps? Since we're all going to have a fair amount of spare time on our hands for the foreseeable future, what about starting another thread where we all listen to the same show/release on a given day and then share impressions afterward? Folks can submit suggestions and one person (not me) picks what we'll all listen to - call it Deadnet Picks or something. Anyway, if this idea is deemed to have merit, I'd suggest one of the loyal regular posters take the lead and do the picking - y'all can decide who. Might be fun. If it does go forward, I nominate Dick's Picks 18 for the first listen. Been talked about here lately, and, had it been a single show rather than a compilation, we'd probably be talking about it in the same conversation as Cornell, Veneta, etc. Or perhaps even Gainesville?? Stay safe and healthy, friends - this planet needs as many Deadheads as possible.

68 and Loud

I completely agree.

On occasion and if I'm not careful volume gets the best of me. One day I might live to regret this. Thankfully, that day was not today.

A new one for me. Some sound weirdness especially in and around banter, but what the hey.

I don't know what it is, but I have soft spot for The Eleven, Born Cross-Eyed and especially New Potatoe Caboose. Good show with some vintage grease to end the night with me feeling a little dirtier than I did when I woke up.

If there's no pick for tomorrow, I suggest the next in line. It's a partial, starts with a rare Clementine. 1/20/68 Euraka Municipal Auditorium. I think we should set up a go fund me to find all the missing reels, there's a couple missing from this show. It would be something for them to be found.

4/30/88 at the Frost

Hey Jim, I know you have had a lot on you plate this year. Thanks for checking this one out. Yes, the recording is decent, not great. Like a lot of 88 recordings out there. Still think they have some good ones in the Vault.

I liked the show, anytime I see a Hey Pocky Way, I am in. Nice Shakedown to open the second set. Love the triple Encore with China Rider OMSN.

It is good to get out of the comfort zone once in a while Doc.

Carousel Ballroom 68, okay Jim, Ok will have to que it up this morning.

Enjoy the weekend out there.

Edit. Oh and after the carousel ballroom I will be moving on the 12/9/79, Dave's Picks #47. Love this one and I need some 79. If I had the keys, I would be putting out a big 79 Box.

Lewiston, for your consideration

44 years ago today, there when Roy Buchanan along with Levon and His All Stars opened for the Dead. My last in person show, on the bus since their first album, however things had changed so much.... Doc was there, a wild late summer scene, part of my farewell to Maine.

All is worthwhile if the soul is not small.....

Hey rockers!!

Yes, we were there and had a blast. Beautiful day and tremendous music. A very fine show by the Dead, one of my all-timefavorite in-person Dead experiences.

Would make a solide offical release. It is worthy......

Doc
Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.....

All is worthwhile if the soul is not small.....

Hey rockers!!

Yes, we were there and had a blast. Beautiful day and tremendous music. A very fine show by the Dead, one of my all-time favorite in-person Dead experiences.

Would make a solid official release. It is worthy......

Doc
Everything I did in my life that was worthwhile, I caught hell for.....

9/6/80

Hey DMCVT,

Love this show and will get it going again this weekend.

And yes, it would make a great releasen.

Pretty sweet you and Doc were there.

9/6/80 Lewiston

I'm in - hopefully sometime this weekend I can transport my mind and spirit into late summer beautiful day/evening Maine. Sounds like a dream show and setting. Very cool that a couple of you guys got to be there. Didn't realize this was the last show before the Warfield run. Long and heartfelt write up on grateful seconds (he was there). Comment at the end from a guy who was 8 at the time and lived a "bike trail" away from the fairgrounds. Listened to part of the show from his clubhouse. Rode his bike over and snuck in. Totally dug the Drums. Made major bank (for a kid) collecting cans and bottles for deposit afterwards (which is exactly what 8 yr old me would have done.) Think I might travel John Deere with the Jim Wise FOB.

Been Gone

But back this week. I can do Lewiston again.

As I recall there is not a good soundboard that circulates, right? And the one that does is first set only and it sure does sound like an audience (or ultramatrix on steroids at least).

High energy though.. like Gainesville, there must have been something in the water.

You have to wonder if this was recorded and if so where the hell are the master tapes? I think someone (Parrish??) tossed out the language that some of the master reels were left on the seat and when the truck pulled away they must have flown out the window or something.

I'd love to see more reels (and cassettes) returned.

Anyway, Lewiston Me for me tomorrow.

Edit: Started tonight - why not? Gave up on the "soundboard" and settled on the Jim Wise same as Bluecrow. Good news, Bluecrow.. The John Deere Broke down and was sitting in the yard for the last half of the week. I got it working today. Had to replace the solenoid. Damned electronics are always interfering with time travel. Just imagine if this broke back in time before Jebediah Solenoid created the first working model for riding mowers.. we would have been screwed.. I mean, nothing wrong with being stuck in 1980 but why not go back another 10 to 15 years...

High energy is right. Pretty good audience.

Follow-Up

While I was in the neighborhood, I took a quickie with 11/28/80 Lakeland Civic Center - Lakeland, FL (30 Trips).

I figured why not.. most enjoyable, especially To Lay Me Down. Not sure why I like that song so much, but I do.

More 1980

Ah, yes, more 1980. You don't have to twist my arm. A shorter show for the time period, but still really good. Will get it going after I finish up Dicks #36, which was mentioned on some other threads. Such a great show, but apparently didn't sell well at the time. No idea why.

My Favorite Non-Multi-Track 1980 Release

Random Musing - 1980

My favorite non-multi-track 1980 release has got to be Dave's # 8, 11/30/80 Fox Theater. Love how that Matrix worked out. If anyone remembers the seaside chat, he was spot on.

Crowd noise was not as big an issue in 1980 as they could play in some pretty intimate venues. Also, as the age of the cassette master replaced the lovely Ms. Cantor Jackson, a lot of those early soundboards are a bit sterile sounding without the crystalline highs and the booming lows. Blending those early 80's soundboards with one of those near perfect audience masters works. When they aged out of the smaller, cooler venues (thinking after Jerry's coma and In The Dark) audience tapes had to compete with hundreds of the guy next to you screaming "JERRY!!" at 95 decibels, this was no longer possible.

That SBD/Dr. Bob matrix is almost exactly perfect (or as good we are going to get for the time).

On the opposite side of the same coin, I think some of the Ultra Matrix's have a bit too much of the guy yelling JERRY! then I sometimes want to hear. Thinking a lot of 87 suffers from this, and by then the audience tapes were no better.

Anyway, if Mr. Norman can pull of similar wizardry I wish they would do more like DaP#8.

Being that it’s the anniversary

9-16-90 playing now.

Wonder what the Black Friday RSD release will be.

Music comes from a place we don't know...........

Mornin', rockers!!!

Pick of the day? September 24, 1972. Because..............Dark Star!

Minor rain storm headed my way................

The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils......

Rock on!

Doc
Music comes from an icicle as it melts, to live again as spring water......

9/24/72

Oh yes, this is a great show, I am in.
Thanks Doc.

Why Not

It's an early audience, but contains one of the few Seven's that were recorded.

09/29/69 Cafe au Go-Go - New York City, NY

It's no betty board, but an interesting inflection point in GD history, so maybe worthy of our time. Primal GD on the heels of WMD Americana GD.

Despite the recording quality, it's pretty good for a 1969 audience. Worth the trip for the Seven alone. Plus, it's pretty short. Something different, something quick, and well, it's really something.

So why not mix it up with a shortie from the fall of 1969.

9/29/69

Will mix this in as I listen to the new box today. Thanks Jim.

Hope everyone had a good summer

Been a while, just wanted to say hello. Watching the Dark Star from 10/18/74, cool to see video of Ned on stage, as well as see Jerry interact with the head nod. Enjoyed the April 78 release. With the 50th anniversary of the Winterland shows a few weeks away, doesn't look like anything is happening. Be good everyone. Bob t

Bob T

Hey Bob T, how have you been man? Hope all is well.
Yes, love that bonus footage from the GDM soundtrack. Might be one of my favorite UJB.
I have been traveling for work this week so still haven't made a dent in the new box, but loving it so.far.
Good thing there is no rush at this point.

Picks

Hope everyone is enjoying the new box set. Really enjoying it so far over here.

If anyone is interested in a pick, it has been a while, how about 5/16/81, Barton Hall from the 30 Trips box?

5-16-81

Started playing it last night and finished it tonight.

Good call DV.
And I’m having a Bell’s Octoberfest too. They’re gone from the store but I have 5 more cans in the fridge.

Conekid

Nice Conekid, must be esp.

Enjoyed the show again, nice Shakedown Bertha, Sailor Saint. Show ends with that audience patch.

Enjoy the last few Octoberfests. Still have a couple six packs to get through. Would buy a few more but the self life of this beer is only 3 months and it goes bad fast.

Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal…..

Good morning fellow rockers!!!

October 19, 1971

The second great seismic shift of 1971. The Yang to the Yin of February 18. Similar, yet different. Old, yet new. A vision of the new era. Change can be for good if you combine audacity with safety………

An old friend missing, a new guy who seems to fit in right away. Six new songs. The return of the complete CE/TOO/CE suite. The unusual occurrence of back-to-back Garcia songs twice in the first set. The first of the Fall 1971 FM broadcasts. One of only two 1971 shows that featured both Black Peter and Brokedown Palace. There ain’t no grease, but there’s plenty of Bakersfield left, as well as big jams.

Not without its rough edges, yet somehow it hangs together oh so well. Absolutely historic and worthy of a serious listen……

Rock on!!
Doc
He who rejects change is the architect of decay, the only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery………

10/19/71

Oh, yes, Doc this is a good show at the University of Minnesota at the Northrup Auditorium. Good idea.

Some may never live, but the crazy never die.....

Morning, rockers!!

This is for AJS. He'll know what I'm talking about...........

October 20, 1984, Carrier Dome. The last show we saw on that tour, maybe not Augusta level but very enjoyable. We had a great time. Maybe it was the liquid 25, courtesy of Deadhead Fred, a little drop'll do ya!!

Or maybe it was the music. Worth a listen!!!

If I had known being insane was so much fun, I'd have gone crazy long ago.....

Rock on,

Doc
No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys......

Doc & Angry Jack

10-20-84 - Syracuse

I was there also, think I met doc in the bathroom during drums,,, he was wearing a tie-dye :-)

My records show we rated Jack Straw at end of set one, a plus 2. Also second set opener of Shakedown got a plus 2 rating from our crew. We have the Black Peter that night at a plus 1.

Thing I remember was the air pressure blowing you out of the exit doors,,, deadheads LOVED this,,, kept going back in just to be blown out!

My wife went to Syracuse (both her parents also!)

Carrier Dome

Love the energy of this show. I'm pretty sure I tossed this out for a pick of the day a few years ago. I was not there, but hey.. we make it to the shows we can and hope for magic and a lightning strike or two.

Still, an enjoyable show and how about that Jack Straw. Another one where I wish I was there.

10-20-84 playing now

Just finished set 1.
It’s a Miller, but the file on my music player doesn’t have an ID number.
Vocals are pretty weak in some places. The playing seems to be trying to make up for it.
Shakedown poking around now…..

Edit:
I would have had fun had I been there.
Drums/Space was good.
I’ll listen to it again.

Most jokes state a bitter truth…..

November 7, 1971
Harding Theater, San Francisco, California

Deadicated to bolo24, because I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail……

Great and classic show and a long-time personal favorite. It has pretty much everything you could ask of the Dead in this era. Rockers, Cowboy songs, hot jams, the unusual coupling of Dark Star and The Other One, an unbelievably smoking NFA transition jam (maybe the best ever?), plus even the often-expected equipment difficulties, AND jokes from the audience! The circulating broadcast copies are excellent quality and highly recommended. The band sounds loose, and the crowd sounds juiced. OK yes there’s no Pigpen, but still highly highly recommended, a classic of the first rank!!

Rock on!!
Doc
It is requisite for the relaxation of the mind that we make use, from time to time, of playful deeds and jokes

I guess I missed it....

I didn't see the notice about the next Bear's Journal, John Hammond.

If you missed too, it's available on Amazon and Bear's site.

Pick

Okay, seems like we need a pick.

How about 10/19/72 from the glorious LTTR Box? Love this box.

Good to see this box finally sold out. We need to make sure these all sell out in order to keep the train rolling.